… Sports Ministry eyeing early opening

WORKS on Guyana’s first-ever synthetic track and facilities are almost complete and the Ministry of Sports is eyeing an official opening very soon.This is according to Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King who sat with Chronicle Sport last week and explained what works have been completed and what was left to be done for the Leonora facility to become fully functional.
King said that the actual 400-metre track is 100 percent complete, including the markings of the lanes and starting points for the various events.
The international-size football field which is situated inside the track is also 100 per cent complete and is well manicured, making it playable right now.
However, King pointed out that at the moment, the facility is not fully functional, since work is ongoing on the athletes and officials’ changing rooms which are situated beneath the North Eastern and North Western spectators stands, which are 90 to 95 percent completed with only the rails for the stands and the painting of the two stands to be done.
These two phases of the work will be completed in a matter of weeks, King stated.
Asked if athletes can use the facility for training purposes now, King explained “We don’t want it to be used at the moment since it’s not fully functional, meaning, the toilets and bathrooms facilities are not 100 percent completed, so we don’t want to have our athletes use the facility and then they get a call of nature and have no place to relieve themselves.”
The Permanent Secretary is however optimistic that these facilities will be ready in about three weeks, since the firm contracted to do these works – Builders Hardware – is well ahead of its time frame for completion.
“They are responsible for the athletes and officials changing rooms as well as the Anti-Doping room with bathrooms and toilets and they are 65 percent complete as we speak. “ King stated, adding “So in another few weeks, these facilities will be completed.”
The Anti-Doping Room was not in the initial planning stage of the facility “but it is a necessity”, King explained.
Last week, King had said that the contracting company – Dookies Construction – that was given the contract for the Clubhouse which is being constructed between the North Eastern and North Western spectators stands was way behind schedule and a decision will have to be made regarding its contract.
The company King had said does not have a timely supply of materials and also does not have the right skill sets or the right machinery to get the job done correctly and in a timely manner.
Asked about the seats that are to be installed and when that phase will start, King said his ministry and the consultants are currently looking at the proposals and are reviewing the designs.
Meanwhile, King assurd that 95 percent of the access and internal roads have been completed as well as 80 percent of the perimeter road and these works he said should be completed in a matter of days.
The perimeter fence, the ticket booths and security building have all been completed.

(By Michael DaSilva)